Device for bowel treatment



May 8, 1923.

' A. E. WEST DEVICE FOR BOWEL TREATMENT Filed Aug. 1922 AGNES E. WEST, OF WATEBTOWN', WISCONSIN.

' DEVICE FOR BOWEL TREATMENT.

Application filed August 7 To allwhomitmay concern: i

Be it known that I, AGNES E. WEST, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Bowel Treatment; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to a device for bowel treatment and is particularly directed .tlOll as shown, or by means ofa union'or' to a device adapted to be used operation.

Following an operation, to relieve gas pains it is frequently found desirable to give such patient an enema, usually a high rectal enema. With a patient in arecumbent position, it is diflicult to care for him after the injection so as to insure his comfort and to maintain a sanitary condition of the bed and pleasant atmosphere in the room. It is also frequently the case that the response to the injection is not immediate, or in fact, the process of evacuation may extend over a long period. Under the latter condition, the patient is compelled to occupy an uncomfortable position over a bed pan.

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects in bowel treatment, and has, therefore, for its objects to provide a device which may be employed to inject the necessary liquid either in the usual manner or as a. high rectal enema, and to receive the discharged matter with a minimum of discomfort to the patient; which may be left in place for a prolonged period; which will insure a sanitary condition of the bed; and which will prevent the unnecessary escape of objectionable odors.

Further objects are to provide a bowel treating device which may be readily separated into its component parts and cleaned,

preceding an which will not be discharged by the inadvertent motion of the patient, and which may be cheaply and readily produced.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which z- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the device in the position it assumes when in use, showing in dotted lines the injection apparatus.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the receiving bag detached.

Figure 3 is aplan view of the injection apparatus removed from the other portions of the device.

, 1922; Serial No. 580,130.

The apparatus comprises a hollow alumi- ,num body portion 1, of a generally conical contour, having a contracted neck'2 and an expanded rear portion 3. It. has anu'pwardly and rearwardly extending hollow portion at to which may be threaded a re- I movable cap 5 provided with a small vent opening 6. A. glass, hard rubber, or metal rectal tube 7 is detachably secured to the neck 2 as by means of athreaded conneo tion formed between the tube and body porother suitable connection. This tube ter- Ininates in a spherical headv 8 having an aperture -9 provided with roundedmargins 10. A flexible guard washer 11,of rubber or 1 other suitable material, surrounds the tube adjacent its rear portion, and is adapt of the patient inadvertently resting his j leg upon it. A convenient way of retaining the bag and body portion 1 in engagement, is by means of a union member 14 having threaded connection with the body portion and binding the bead 15 of the bag against the corresponding face of the body portion.

The injection apparatus may be of any desired type, such for instance as a bulb 16 and an elongated flexible tube 17 preferably terminating in a rounded end 18.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol,- lowsthe apparatus connected, as shown in Figure 1, is placed between the slightly I parted, and preferably elevated, legs of the patient and the tube 7 is inserted in his rectum. The cap 5 is unscrewed and the flexible tube 17 of the injection apparatus is passed through the portion 4 and into the patient,such tube being guided by the gradually contracting interior of the body portion 1 and through the tube 7. It is to a be noted that no shoulders are present in the interior of the apparatus to obstruct the passage of the flexible tube 17. a

After the injection the tube 17 "is withdrawn, the cap 5 replaced, and the remaining portion of the apparatus left in position if desiredone such gasket 19 being shown shoulders or pockets exist between the tube 7 and the bag 12, and that there is a gradual downward slope from such tube into the bag thereby aiding in the collection of matter within such bag. There is no chance for soiling-of the bedding to occur as the joints are secure, and may be provided with gaskets between thetube 7 and the body 1. The rubberbead 15 of the bag may act as a gasket and avoid the necessity of one between such bag and the body portion 1.

It will be seen that a bowel treating apparatus has been provided which may be positioned, an injection given, and then left in place to receive the discharged matter, with a minimum of discomfort to the patient.

It will further be seen that the apparatus may be easily separated into its component parts to allow the ready discharge of the accumulated matter, and thereafter may be as readily cleaned.

It will also be seen that the device is sim ple in construction and may be produced at a small manufacturing cost.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such invention may be embodied in difierent forms of apparatus and, therefore, is to be limited only as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A bowel treatment apparatus comprising a hollow body portion having an enlarged rear end, a contracted front end, and an angularly extending portion; a flexible e2;- creta receiving bag having a relatively large mouth portion detachably secured to said enlarged rear portion; a rectal tube detachably secured to said contracted front end; and a vented cap removably closing said angularly extending portion.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand at l/Vatertown, in l the county of Jefferson and State of Nisconsin.

AGNES E. WEST. 

